Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-17

Mr.. John H. Crane Presents S0me Mere
Figures-The Case Of the ssDOllaz
M3Yk.O

| Mark,
| To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
About one month ago application was made In
the Equity Court, Judge Merrick presiding, for an
| Injunction to restrain the Commissioners from
cutting on the water from houses Illegally and
unJustly charged for water where no water was
| used BY agreement Of counsel Judge willard for
the petitioners and Assistant Corporation Attorney
Davis for the Commissioner the case was certified
| 70 the General Term. When the case was called
Mr.. Davis was not ready, and asked for further
time. 1t was finally agreed TO postpone the case
| until to-day, Mr.. Davis assuring the court and
Judge willard that no water would be turned Cd
until decision might b. reached This agree
ment was accepted in good faith by citizens
paid TO IL BY the water department, which went on
turning on the water as II no such agreement had
been made. The matter was brought TO the atten-
no more water should be turned Oh while the case
might be pending. This was published in THE
paid to IL by the water ONCE Will be seen BY a
notice received by the occupant OF house No, 2915
street northwest ,ns last Saturday, that the law
premises and not restored until the rent costs and
penalty are paid, would be enforcedwithout further
the date OF the notice. This is Tor a house with q
cigar store on the lower floor, where there Is no
water, and no need OF any water. This Is a clear
not only OF contempt for the rights OF citizens
but contempt OF court.
ANOTHER CASE In POINT.
But this Is not the worst OF the matter. On the
18th OF July the occupant OF house No. 7O3 st.
northwest paid his water rent. The house is -
feet 'front.' that being all that has heretofore been
charged for the width. This year, under Col Lud-
lows system Of adjusting water rents the house Is
rated as "a feet front. II was probably measured
used by the Water department for measuring
houses, as can testify from personal observation.
The rate was increased from Sis to $9.17. The
(sef . " al
charge at the time, and has In his possession the
receipted bill signed by the collector, John FCOOk,
and countersigned by the auditor |. s. TtchenOr.
Last Friday the gentleman that paid the bill re-
ceived a notice in the usual form that the water
rent upon the premises 7O3 street northwest had
not been paid, and that water would be cut on
after the expiration OF IOrty-eight hours.
This illustrates how the books in the water
Once ON are Kept IL proves what Is charged that
those in the auditors office. Here Is man called
upon three months after he has paid his water
and loOseness In that ONCE which is inexcuseable
In view OF the large clerical force employed 10
A STRANGE JuNBLR OF FIGURES
On page 343 OF Collector Cooks volume Of tax
sales for the year 1887, recently published may be
found the following:
FITZGERALD, Susan,
All instruments or Waterman tax on interest
from November Is. 1873, on sub lot A. square
This lot Is situated on Maryland avenue, be-
tween 9th and 10th streets southwest. On having
ner attention called 70 this monstrous bill Mrs
bill OF her Waterman tax and got back bill
amounting to t73O1, the items being as follows:
Instruments OF tax for water mains $4S1 10; inter-
est at q per cent from November Is, 1879, to Sep
tember ID, 1887, $2261; advertising (nve years.,
81; auctioneer's fee, 80 cents; total, s7301.
After getting this reply Mrs. Fitzgerald again
wrote 10 the commissioners for an explanation as
TO why her property was advertised for non-pay
ment OF water tax OF $40 90 when the books Of
only $13Ol. From this inquiry she received the
following remarkable letter from Dr. Tindall Sec
Rotary TO the Commissioners:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
WASHINGTON, september 36, 1887.
No. e37 Maryland avenue southwest:
MADAM: Referring 70 your communication re-
speeding the amount OF Waterman TAX due on lot
A, square 2S5, am directed 10 inform you that
the chief clerk or the water division reports that
after examination he has concluded that you must
have confOunded the dollar mark 60 with the
ngure y, as the Waterman tax due is $40 CO. inter-
Est, advertising, &C., bringing IT up 10 $1aOl
there Is no Waterman TAX on the books Of
$4,000 against your property nor does 1t appear
In The printed list.
Very respectfully, W. TINDALI. Secretary.
IL Will be observed that the doctor makes an
error In the number Of the square, 1t being S, in
stead OF 2S5 as he has It. You will see, by refer
ring To Mr. Cooks printed advertisement, that the
''dolar-mark," the doctor speaks OF. is plainly
given Oefore the Inquire 9, making the amount read
$4,000 as plainly IL is possible TO print gures.
IL seems strange that neither the Commissioners
nor their secretary took the trouble TO examine
Mr. COOKS advertisement before giving currency
TO such ridiculous statement. IL will be seen by
an examination OF the above bill that the figures
SIC. 30 nowhere appear, the original amount being
SIS TO- instead OF $1,000, stated by Dr. Tindal.
when the doctor states that the figures $94O.6
nowhere appears in the printed list" he states
what the printed list proves To be untrue, as you
Will see oy Mr.. Cooks printed slip that send you.
Citlzens are reqaestel TO examine Collector Cooks
tax-Sale advertisements, where they will lind
the figures $4,000 plainly printed on page
3i3. Will not make any comments ON the above.
The figures speak for themselves. j. Ii. CRANE.